Assumption regarding the relationship between creativity and mental disturbances has attracted ac... more Assumption regarding the relationship between creativity and mental disturbances has attracted academic and public interest from antiquity. Research performed in recent years, support these associations and show a disproportionately high rate of mental illnesses, especially bipolar disorder, in creative individuals. In this article, we give another example of this link by describing the life and works of a Lithuanian composer, painter, and poet Mikalojus Konstantinas Chiurlionis (1875–1911) (Lithuanian transcription—Ciurlionis). This relationship is demonstrated graphically, which enables to see a link between his mood fluctuations and quantity of Chiurlionis' works. Chiurlionis lived in the complex period with its turbulent whirl of changing trends in art doubtlessly influenced his art. Chiurlionis had synesthesia and he was one of the first who tried to join music and painting in a synthesis of the arts. Significant components of his work are related to Symbolism. Chiurlionis lived very short life—only 36 years, but during his life, he created over 200 musical works, and painted about 300 canvases. His compositions were romantic and nationalist in spirit, sometimes inspired by Lithuanian folklore and his best work is thought to be his “musical paintings”. For many years, they were virtually unknown outside his motherland. While it was well-known that Chiurlionis died in a sanatorium for mental ill, almost nothing was written about his mental illness. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate that the Chiurlionis' illness (bipolar affective disorder) and his creative output in music and paintings were connected.
The study of loss as a result of war and conflict has been a mainstay of the bereavement field in... more The study of loss as a result of war and conflict has been a mainstay of the bereavement field in Israel. The present article provides a brief background of Israel and its literature relating to loss and bereavement. A series of research studies based on the Two-track Model of Bereavement and covering both mili-
The complicated relationship between the discipline of mental health and the arts has barely been... more The complicated relationship between the discipline of mental health and the arts has barely been studied systematically. Mental hospitals, shelters and prisons - institutions that accommodate the mentally ill - sometimes promote but often discourage and disrupt the patients' artistic creativity and the images created. In psychiatric circles, the recognition of patient art was a long, slow and frustrating process. Among the Western psychiatrists who studied the creative activity of the mentally ill, researchers usually mention such names as C. Lombroso, M. Shearing, V. Morgentaller, H. Prinzhorn and others, but rarely refer to their Russian colleagues and contemporaries. Pavel Ivanovich Karpov (1873-1932?), a Russian psychiatrist, was one of the most extensive researchers in the field of the art of the insane, but unfortunately his name is little known among modern psychiatrists. For his clinical and scientific contributions, he deserves to be remembered in the history of psychi...
The Israel journal of psychiatry and related sciences, 2013
Twenty-two percent of households in Israel experience food insecurity, and it is especially wides... more Twenty-two percent of households in Israel experience food insecurity, and it is especially widespread in socio-economically distressed strata. Although their low socio-economic status renders psychiatric patients at risk for food insecurity, this issue has thus far been ignored in both practice and research. To explore food insecurity among psychiatric patients in comparison with welfare-services clients in order to raise awareness of food insecurity in this population. 114 respondents were recruited from among patients admitted to the emergency room and hospitalized in a mental health center in Beer Sheva; 555 respondents were recruited from among low-income clients of welfare service agencies in the Beer Sheva area. All respondents were surveyed with a self-report questionnaire and with the Food Security Core Survey Module (FSCSM). Forty percent of psychiatric patients and 59% of welfare-services clients reported food insecurity. The use of formal and informal support systems was...
Aleksandr Sergeyevich Pushkin (1799-1837) was one of the great figures of Russian poetry and lite... more Aleksandr Sergeyevich Pushkin (1799-1837) was one of the great figures of Russian poetry and literature. There are numerous publications about his life, adventures and creative work. However, little has been written about his character, mental state and the condition of his wound during his fatal duel. Furthermore, his sexual illnesses and their nature were discussed even less. This paper attempts to lift the veil from this mystery.
Assumption regarding the relationship between creativity and mental disturbances has attracted ac... more Assumption regarding the relationship between creativity and mental disturbances has attracted academic and public interest from antiquity. Research performed in recent years, support these associations and show a disproportionately high rate of mental illnesses, especially bipolar disorder, in creative individuals. In this article, we give another example of this link by describing the life and works of a Lithuanian composer, painter, and poet Mikalojus Konstantinas Chiurlionis (1875–1911) (Lithuanian transcription—Ciurlionis). This relationship is demonstrated graphically, which enables to see a link between his mood fluctuations and quantity of Chiurlionis' works. Chiurlionis lived in the complex period with its turbulent whirl of changing trends in art doubtlessly influenced his art. Chiurlionis had synesthesia and he was one of the first who tried to join music and painting in a synthesis of the arts. Significant components of his work are related to Symbolism. Chiurlionis lived very short life—only 36 years, but during his life, he created over 200 musical works, and painted about 300 canvases. His compositions were romantic and nationalist in spirit, sometimes inspired by Lithuanian folklore and his best work is thought to be his “musical paintings”. For many years, they were virtually unknown outside his motherland. While it was well-known that Chiurlionis died in a sanatorium for mental ill, almost nothing was written about his mental illness. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate that the Chiurlionis' illness (bipolar affective disorder) and his creative output in music and paintings were connected.
The study of loss as a result of war and conflict has been a mainstay of the bereavement field in... more The study of loss as a result of war and conflict has been a mainstay of the bereavement field in Israel. The present article provides a brief background of Israel and its literature relating to loss and bereavement. A series of research studies based on the Two-track Model of Bereavement and covering both mili-
The complicated relationship between the discipline of mental health and the arts has barely been... more The complicated relationship between the discipline of mental health and the arts has barely been studied systematically. Mental hospitals, shelters and prisons - institutions that accommodate the mentally ill - sometimes promote but often discourage and disrupt the patients' artistic creativity and the images created. In psychiatric circles, the recognition of patient art was a long, slow and frustrating process. Among the Western psychiatrists who studied the creative activity of the mentally ill, researchers usually mention such names as C. Lombroso, M. Shearing, V. Morgentaller, H. Prinzhorn and others, but rarely refer to their Russian colleagues and contemporaries. Pavel Ivanovich Karpov (1873-1932?), a Russian psychiatrist, was one of the most extensive researchers in the field of the art of the insane, but unfortunately his name is little known among modern psychiatrists. For his clinical and scientific contributions, he deserves to be remembered in the history of psychi...
The Israel journal of psychiatry and related sciences, 2013
Twenty-two percent of households in Israel experience food insecurity, and it is especially wides... more Twenty-two percent of households in Israel experience food insecurity, and it is especially widespread in socio-economically distressed strata. Although their low socio-economic status renders psychiatric patients at risk for food insecurity, this issue has thus far been ignored in both practice and research. To explore food insecurity among psychiatric patients in comparison with welfare-services clients in order to raise awareness of food insecurity in this population. 114 respondents were recruited from among patients admitted to the emergency room and hospitalized in a mental health center in Beer Sheva; 555 respondents were recruited from among low-income clients of welfare service agencies in the Beer Sheva area. All respondents were surveyed with a self-report questionnaire and with the Food Security Core Survey Module (FSCSM). Forty percent of psychiatric patients and 59% of welfare-services clients reported food insecurity. The use of formal and informal support systems was...
Aleksandr Sergeyevich Pushkin (1799-1837) was one of the great figures of Russian poetry and lite... more Aleksandr Sergeyevich Pushkin (1799-1837) was one of the great figures of Russian poetry and literature. There are numerous publications about his life, adventures and creative work. However, little has been written about his character, mental state and the condition of his wound during his fatal duel. Furthermore, his sexual illnesses and their nature were discussed even less. This paper attempts to lift the veil from this mystery.
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Papers by Eliezer Witztum